Really wise to wait a year before putting anything in the ground, Anne - I learned that lesson the hard way!! If I were you, I'd bleat, bribe, and bully family, friends and neighbours into helping with the hard work.
We live in a small village called Clifton in Oxfordshire, but have a London place as well (I much prefer the country). I've been to Abbot's Langley but only on a short stop - it seemed rather lovely.
I'll keep watching your new garden grow - what is the climate like? Will you need an irrigation system? So many questions!
